New Kind of Avalanche: 9 Russian Adventurers Mysteriously Froze to Death

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on a recent Ars Technica article that presents a new theory regarding the mysterious deaths of nine Russian adventurers, attributing their demise to a previously unrecognized type of avalanche. This theory suggests that a micro avalanche can occur on slopes with a minimum angle of 20.0 degrees, specifically noting that the slope in question was 23.0 degrees. Participants expressed initial skepticism about the claim of a "new" avalanche type but acknowledged that the research aligns with their personal experiences of snow conditions, where a hard surface can conceal softer layers beneath.

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This discussion is beneficial for outdoor enthusiasts, avalanche safety instructors, researchers in snow science, and winter sports professionals seeking to understand avalanche risks and dynamics better.

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Cool. My first reaction, before reading the article was skepticism regarding the claim of a "new" kind of avalanche, but indeed that is what the article details.
 
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When I read it, it made sense. It’s something I experienced as a kid where the snow was hard on the surface due to the winds but soft and powdery underneath.

We used to break off chunks a toss them onto the hard surface to see the piece shatter and the parts skitter away.

It never occurred to me that on an incline that a portion of the surface could break free and slide down as a kind of micro avalanche.
 
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jedishrfu said:
the snow was hard on the surface due to the winds but soft and powdery underneath.
I was once on a ski lift early watching some skiers taking a first run on a slope like that. :biggrin:
 
My understanding is that is not entirely a "new kind" - more like they proved known kind of avalanche could take place in the conditions present there and then.
 
Also that for this type of avalanche the slope was less than the 30.0 degree slope.

A minimum of 20.0 degree was needed and in the case of tragic event they described, the slope was 23.0 degrees.
 
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Read that with an internal Theremin playing.
 

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